I'm considering staying at the New Otani next July for 2 nights. I've been reading reviews here and on Trip Advisor, and although the comments overall are positive, it seems the rooms are rather small.

I'll be needing a room that can accomodate 2 adults and 2 children. When I called the hotel, they advised a Park View one bedroom suite in the 3-story building. The woman on the phone assured me it has a partial ocean view (which is what I want). Can anyone who has stayed in this part of the New Otani comment on the rooms and/or view?

The other alternative is an Ocean View Junior Suite in the main nine-story building. I'd need to have 2 rollaway beds brought into the room for my kids at $30 each. Not as concerned about the price (although it seems hefty) as I am about space in the room. Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks,
Diane

Diane: I've stayed at the New Otani over a dozen times before moving to Hawaii. There is good and bad about the hotel. It is older and the rooms are not large. There is a large suite in the main hotel that is ocean front/view and would definitely accommodate your party. There is also a 2 story building right next to the hotel where the rooms have little kitchenettes and are a little bigger. It's a quiet hotel with no shops in it but you also don't get all of the tourists from Waikiki in your lobby. That's the good side of the hotel. You are not in Waikiki. You are at the Diamond Head side of Kapiolani Park and right next door to the multi-million dollar condos. More residential. But you are only a 10 minutes walk to Waikiki. The restuarant at the hotel, The Hau Tree, is one of the best on Oahu for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Right on the sand and excellent food. The waiters have been there forever. Donna is great!

The other great thing about the New Otani is the view. If you are there for the 4th of July you will have an unobstructed view of the fireworks in Waikiki. But any night is beautiful with the citylights.

I've had the privilege to stay at the Hilton Hawaiian, Marriott, Hyatt, etc. downtown. They are right in the thick of things and very touristy and busy but lots of services all around.

I preferred the New Otani for a more relaxing stay that gets away from all of the hustle and bustle. It's more of the traditional Hawaiian setting, (although it is owned by Japanese).

Hope this helps. Aloha!

Thanks for the response, Marialani. We will be there for the 4th of July which is why I want an ocean view room so we can see the fireworks!

From your comments, it sounds like we'd be better off staying in the ocean view room in the main building, and dealing with possibly cramped quarters, rather than taking a chance on a larger room in the 3-story building next door that supposedly has a partial ocean view.

Any one else have any knowledge of the rooms/views in the two different buildings at the New Otani?

Diane

I've stayed in one of the suites in the 2 or 3 story hbuilding. we did not have an ocean view. However, I would recommend it for the spaciousness of the rooms and bathrooms, and the advantage of the small kitchen and table. We also had young children at the time, and everyone was on different sleeping schedules - it was a huge advantage to have two rooms. I would never take a single room with two rollaways - you would be constantly tripping over each other.

Thanks for your response, patg.

Although the spaciousness of the larger rooms in the 2/3 story building would be nice, for me, an ocean view is a "must have". We want to be able to see the fireworks on the 4th of July from the room balcony.

Luckily, my kids are now old enough (9 and 12) to be on the same sleep schedule as the parents, so I don't have the same concerns as you would have with little ones. I don't need a kitchenette, either, so that's not really an attractive option for me.

I guess my decision is made. Since it's only for 2 nights, we'll manage with the cramped room. During the day we won't be spending much time in the room anyway.

Diane

Diane, I've stayed in the ocean view jr. suites. They are wonderful, though you will be cozy with two cots in there. The views are to die for. Get a room as high up as you can. Our's was on the 7th floor, my sister's was on the 2nd, and we loved the place!!! Hau Tree Lanai is a good restaurant, though I wasn't quite as enchanted as some are with it. We LOVED the ocean there at Sans Souci Beach ... like a big, warm sloshy gentle bathtub. Your kids should love it! The inside of the rooms are much more attractive than the exterior of this hotel, I think. Keep that in mind, when you arrive. (In comparison to the Hiltons, Renaissances, etc.) Have a wonderful trip ... what a great place to be for the 4th!

Diane, if you can, get a corner room facing Waikiki. We loved our wrap-around balcony (it was either 6th or 7th floor - so you can see over the top of the palms). It was a little hard to find - but it was our first time in Honolulu. As was mentioned, the water was calm and we liked being on the park and not in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Maggi, the ocean view jr. suites ARE the corner wrap-arounds ... The very best views!

Gosh, bonniebroad, if our room was a jr. suite, I can't imagine how small the reg. rooms are, LOL. The best part, though were all the windows and the balcony. We kept our doorwall open all the time and a palm actually nodded inside when the breeze was up.

If you are a Northwest FF, they are currently offering 2500 bonus miles for a stay at the Otani Kaimana Hotels. That's how we ended up there a few years ago. Diane, alas this offer is only good until the end of the year, but if it applies to you, keep your eyes open, they might offer it again before your trip.
(from their website):
"Hotel New Otani is offering a total of 2,500 miles to WorldPerks members per qualifying stay of two consecutive nights or more.
Promotion Period: September 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006
Participating Hotels :
Tokyo, Makuhari, Osaka, Hotel & Garden (LosAngeles, Kaimana Beach (Honolulu),
Chang Fu Gong (Beijing)

Thanks to everyone for replying.

It's been 16 years since I've been to Oahu and then I was staying with family. I'm really excited about the trip next summer (planning a vacation is half the fun for me!).

It sounds like the Otani is a great hotel and I'll definitely be getting the Ocean View Jr. Suite. I know it will be cramped with the cots for the kids, but it sounds like the view will make it all worthwhile!

Diane

Diane, glad that you are all set now, with your hotel plans. I'm sure you'll have a grand time.

Maggi, I've heard that the "regular," least expensive, rooms at the New Otani are so small that you can barely turn around in them. What they call a suite is more like a nice big *roomy* room in other hotels ...